Steam-trap



A. E. ARMSTRONG.

STEAM TRAP.

APPLICATION man Aus.27,1ela.

.1 309,604, Patented July 15, 1919.

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(QM W ADAM E. ARMSTRONG, OF THREE RIVERS, MICHIGAN] STEAM-TRAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 15, 1919.

Application filed August 27, 1918. Serial No. 251,637.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADAM E. ARMSTRONG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Three Rivers, Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam- Traps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in steam traps.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide an improved trap which is very simple and compact in structure and at the same time of large capacity and positive in its operation.

Second, to provide an improved trap which is eflicient and durable and not likely to get out of repair or become air bound.

Third, to provide an improved trap which is economical in structure and operates under pulsating pressure and under a great variety of conditions.

Further objects, and objects relating to structural details, will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and means described in the following specification. The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in which:

Figure I is a side elevation of a trap embodying the features of my invention.

Fig. II is a detail view mainly in Vertical central section on a line corresponding to line 2-2 of Fig. III.

Fig. III is a horizontal section on a line corresponding to line 33 of Fig. II.

In the drawing, similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section lines.

Referring to the drawing, I provide a cylindrical float and discharge chamber 1 the body of which is a cylinder-like casting having a bottom 2 integral therewith and top and bottom flanges 3 and 4 respectively. The cap or top 5 is also a casting and is provided with a central discharge 6 threaded to receive the discharge pipe 7 and having a flange 8 connected to the flange 4 at the upper end of the body by means of bolts 9. The valve casin 10 is threaded into a cap as shown in Fig; 11, provided. with a downwardly facing valve seat 11. The valve 12 is closed outwardly.

The valve casing carries a yoke 13 in one arm of which the valve actuating lever 14 is pivotally mounted. Within the valve chamber is a submerged float or bucket 15 open at its lower end and provided with a small vent 16 at its upper end This float is pivotally mounted on the lever 17 mounted on one arm of the yoke in an oppositely disposed relation to the valve lever 15 and connected thereto by the link 18. This connection permits the float being disposed be low the centrally located valve.

Below the float chamber is a separating chamber 19 which is, as illustrated, a casting having a flange 20 connected to the flange 3 at the lower end of the body of the float chamber by bolts 21,

The tube 22 is arranged through the bottom 2 of the float chamber to depend into the separating chamber to a point near the bottom thereof and extends into the float chamber so as to deliver into the float or bucket 15. The tube is provided with an outwardly inclined vent 24 at the top of the separating chamber.

The inlet pipe 25 is connected for congenience to the side of the separating cham- In the drawing the float is illustrated in its lower position with its feet 26 resting on the bottom, in which position the valve 12 is open and the trap discharging.

The operation of the device is as follows: Assuming the trap to be discharging, the

arts will then be in the position illustrated.

hen all the water is drawn from the separating chamber it is followed by steam which fills the bucket and closes the valve. As water enters the separating chamber the lower end of the tube 22 is water sealed, but steam is supplied throughthe port 24 to replace any that is condensed in the bucket. This port 24 is sealed when the water level reaches it and further condensation in the bucket then draws water through the tube filling the float and causing it to sink and to open the valve.

The momentum of the water flowing through the tube prevents steam from passing through the port 24 until all water is blown from the separating chamber and the valve is again closed by the steam floating or raising the float.

My improved trap is very positive in its operation and cannot become air bound as air acts the same as steam causing the float" to rise. That is, air and other incondensable gases escape from the float through the small vent 16 and air is collected in the top of the trap displacing or changing places with the Water which enters the float at the bottom. The float will then operate or sink to open the valve and the air is drawn off so that air binding cannot occur. The air cannot escape backward in the cylinder but must pass off with the water.

I have illustrated and described my improvements in an embodiment which-I have found highly satisfactory in commercial use. I have not attempted to illustrate and de" scribe certain modifications and adaptations which I contemplate as I believe the disclosuremade will enable those skilled in the art to which my invention relates to embody or adapt the same as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a trap, the combination of a float chamber having a central discharge at its upper end provided with a downwardly opening valve, a supporting yoke within said chamber, a valve lever connected to said valve and pivotally mounted on one arm of said yoke, a submerged float open at its lower end and having a vent in its upper end arranged in said float chamber, a float leverpivotally mounted on the other arm of said yoke in an oppositely disposed relation to said valve lever, and connected to the outer end thereof by a link. a separating chamber below said float chamber having an inlet connection, and a tube disposed centrally through the bottom of said float chamber to deliver into said float and depend intothe separating chamber, said tube havlng a port at the top of the separating chamber.

2. In a trap, the combination of a float chamber having a central discharge at its upper end provided 'with a downwardly openlng valve, a supporting yoke within sa1d chamber, a valve lever connected to said valve and pivotally mounted on one arm of said yoke, a submerged float open at its lower end arranged in said float chamber, a-

float lever pivotally mounted on the other arm f sa1d yoke in an oppositely disposed relatlon to sa1d valve lever, and connected to the outer end thereof by. a l1nk,"a separating chamber below saidfloat phamber having inlet connection, and a tube disposed centrally through'the bottom of said float chamber to deliver into said float and depend into the separating chamber.

3. In a trap, the combination of a float chamber having a discharge valve, a. submerged float open at its lower end and having a vent in its upper end arranged in said float chamber and operatively connected to said valve, a separating chamber below said float chamber having an inlet connection, and a tube disposed downwardly through the bottom of said float chamber to deliver into said float and depend into the separating chamber, said tube having an outwardly inclined port at the top of the supporting chamber.

4. In a trap, the combination of a float chamber having a discharge valve, a submerged float open at its lower end arranged in said .float chamber and o-peratively connected to said valve, a separating chamber below said float chamber having an inlet connection, and a tube disposed downwardly through the bottom of said float chamber to deliver into said float and depend into the separating chamber.

5. In a trap, the combination of a float chamber having a discharge valve, a separating chamber below said float chamber, a centrally disposed tube depending into said separating chamber and extending upwardly into said float chamber, said tube having a port at the top of the separating chamber, a submerged float open at its lower end and having a vent at its upper end arranged in said float chamber so that said tube discharges thereto, and operating connections for said float to saidvalve.

6. In a trap, the combination of a float chamber having. a discharge valve, a separating chamber below said float chamber. a centrally disposed tube depending into said separating chamber and extending upwardly into said float chamber said tube having a port at the top of the separating chamber, a submerged float open at its lower end arranged in said float chamber so that sa1d tube discharges thereto, and operating con nections for said float to said valve.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two witnesses. 1

ADAM E. ARMSTRONG. [L.s.] Witnesses:

LUELLA G. GREENFIELD, GRACE B. THoMPsoN. 

